Postpartum Psychosis Can be Prevented in Women at High Risk
Women with bipolar disorder or history of postpartum psychosis are at high risk for postpartum psychosis; appropriate interventions significantly decrease this risk.
CBT for the Prevention of Postpartum OCD
Given the prevalence of postpartum OCD and obsessive symptoms in women with postpartum depression, we should devote more time to this topic. This is an informative and well-written article by Alice Wolton on postpartum OCD in Forbes. In this piece, she mentions a recent study from Timpano and colleagues at the University of Miami where cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was used to prevent postpartum OCD.Â
A Blood Test for Identifying Women at Risk for Postpartum Depression?
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could identify women who were at risk for postpartum depression (PPD)? Maybe if we could do that, we could actually prevent the depression from occurring. Or at least, we could intervene in some way so that the depression would not significantly affect the mother and her family.Â
Will PMDD Have a New Home in the DSM-V?
The American Psychiatric Association is now considering the possibility of including premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in the DSM-V as a new category, rather than listing a set of criteria for PMDD in the appendix (as in DSM-IV). The diagnostic criteria remain relatively unchanged. Many feel that the Inclusion of PMDD as a distinct diagnostic category will lead to greater legitimacy for the disorder and will encourage the growth of evidence-based research in this area.
A New Website to Help Educate Menopausal Women about Their Treatment Options
Ever since 2002 when several large-scale studies called into question the safety of long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT), there has been confusion and conflicting opinions regarding the management of menopausal symptoms. Initially there was a movement to avoid HRT altogether; now it is becoming clearer that certain women may safely use and benefit from hormonal interventions.
New Research from the CWMH: Progestins Do Not Negatively Affect Mood in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women
More than half of all women initiating treatment with hormone therapy will stop within the first year of treatment, most often because of side effects. Mood disturbance is a relatively common side effect that occurs with hormone therapy, and previous studies have suggested that progestins in the combined hormone preparations are responsible for these negative mood effects.